that's why we were pushing forward and are on the perm nngt tax relief bill in plan b. but we also know very well that revenues are not the issue here, it is spending. you know, you look at the size of these bills. even the size of the bills over being discussed at the white house. this is just the beginning and a down payment -- >> john harwood joins us. you heard him say they had the votes. i guess i'm wondering do you believe him and if that does pass tonight, what happens next? >> i do believe him. it's always possible things could break down. the reason that they added the spending cut bill to the mix, the $200 billion, is to make sure it passed because you had a lot of conservatives saying, hey, wait a minute, why are we raising taxes on anybody for a bill that doesn't have spending cuts? they added that to get them over the hump, get the 218 votes. i assume a level of confidence in their whip operation and they can pass it. they may leave town, the senate said they'll leave down, they'll come back after christmas on the 26th or 27th. they will see and everybody r